Statement on human rights-based approach to mistreatment
and violence against women in reproductive health services,
with a focus on childbirth and obstetric violence
Dubravka Šimonović
Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences
74th session of the General Assembly
Third Committee
Item 70 (b and c); Human Rights
4 October 2019
New York
Mr. Chairperson,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is an honour to present my thematic report on adopting a human rights-based approach to mistreatment and violence against women in reproductive health services, with a focus on childbirth and obstetric violence, to the General Assembly in my capacity as Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences.
Let me begin by briefly outlining some of the activities I have undertaken in the last year.
In June 2019 I presented my thematic report to the Human Rights Council, which analyses 25 years of the mandate, the current challenges it faces and the way forward (A/HRC/41/42), along with two country visit reports on Canada (A/HRC/41/42/Add.1) and Nepal (A/HRC/41/2/Add.2). In October and November 2019, I will undertake two official country visits to Bulgaria and Ecuador, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank both Governments for their invitations.
In my report to the Human Rights Council I noted that a new system wide global approach is necessary to eliminate violence against women and girls, and as such, would strengthen the implementation of States human rights obligations under the UN and regional women’s human rights instruments to prevent and combat violence against women and impose zero tolerance on any such violence. I believe that the institutional establishment of the Platform of UN and regional independent women’s human rights mechanisms on the elimination of violence against women (MEVAW)[1], that could speak with one voice on specific topics of joint concern, would contribute to this much needed system wide approach and would strengthen implementation efforts on the elimination of gender based violence against women and girls.
Foto source: Wikipedia
